Council

Council - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

Spoken of counsellors who sat in public trials with the governor of a province (Acts 25:12).

The Jewish councils were the Sanhedrim, or supreme council of the nation, which had subordinate to it smaller tribunals (the "judgment," perhaps, in Matt. 5:21, 22) in the cities of Palestine (Matt. 10:17; Mark 13:9). In the time of Christ the functions of the Sanhedrim were limited (John 16:2; 2 Cor. 11:24). In Ps. 68:27 the word "council" means simply a company of persons. (R.V. marg., "company.")

In ecclesiastical history the word is used to denote an assembly of pastors or bishops for the discussion and regulation of church affairs. The first of these councils was that of the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, of which we have a detailed account in Acts 15.

koun'-sil, koun'-siler (sumboulion): An assembly of advisers (Ac 25:12); a body of those taking counsel (see Schurer's Jewish People in the Time of Christ, I (1), 60). Distinguished from sunedrion, the supreme court of the Jews, by being of a less formal character, i.e. less of an institution. For "council" in the latter sense, its most frequent use, see SANHEDRIN. A councilor (Greek bouleutes) was a member of the Sanhedrin. Applied to Joseph of Arimathea (Mr 15:43; Lu 23:50). In the King James Version "counsellor."

1. The great council of the Sanhedrin, which sat at Jerusalem. [SANHEDRIN]
2. The lesser courts, (Matthew 10:17; Mark 13:9) of which there were two at Jerusalem and one in each town of Palestine. The constitution of these courts is a doubtful point. The existence of local courts, however constituted, is clearly implied in the passages quoted from the New Testament; and perhaps the "judgment," (Matthew 5:21) applies to them.
3. A kind of jury or privy council, (Acts 25:12) consisting of a certain number of assessors, who assisted Roman governors in the administration of justice and in other public matters.

Definition

A council is a group of people who meet to discuss, give advice, and make decisions about important matters.

• A council is usually organized in an official and somewhat permanent way for a specific purpose, such as making decisions about legal matters.
• The “Jewish Council” in Jerusalem, also known as the “Sanhedrin,” had 70 members, which included Jewish leaders such as chief priests, elders, scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees who met regularly to decide matters of Jewish law. It was this council of religious leaders who put Jesus on trial and decided that he should be killed.
• There were also smaller Jewish councils in other cities.
• The apostle Paul was brought before a Roman council when he was arrested for teaching the gospel.
• Depending on the context, the word “council” could also be translated as “legal assembly” or “political assembly.”
• To be “in council” means to be in a special meeting to decide something.
• Note that this is a different word than “counsel,” which means “wise advice.”

(See also: assembly, counsel, Pharisee, law, priest, Sadducee, scribe)

Bible References

• Acts 7:57-58
• Acts 24:20
• John 3:2
• Luke 22:68
• Mark 13:9
• Matthew 5:22
• Matthew 26:59

Word Data

• Strong’s: H4186, H5475, G10100, G48240, G48920